Star Wars Black Series 50th Anniversary

The Star Wars Black Series 50th Anniversary sub-line is the most creatively diverse specialist collection in the Galaxy Collection era — 32 figures released between 2021 and 2023 spanning comics-original characters, Kenner callback designs, Tartakovsky Clone Wars animated figures, Power of the Force 2 tribute releases, and prequel-era characters, all in the sub-line’s distinctive retro-inspired packaging. Where the 40th Anniversary focused exclusively on the Original Trilogy films, the 50th Anniversary ranges across the entire Star Wars expanded universe to celebrate the franchise’s milestone.

The sub-line’s most significant contributions to the Star Wars Black Series are its comics and Legends characters — characters like Doctor Aphra, Mara Jade, Jaxxon, Black Krrsantan, and Carnor Jax who exist only in comics and Legends material and have no other Black Series presence. For expanded universe collectors, the 50th Anniversary is essential — it is the only source for these characters in 6-inch format.

The Four Pillars of the 50th Anniversary

Comics and Legends. The most distinctive portion of the sub-line covers characters from Marvel’s ongoing Star Wars comics and the broader Legends expanded universe. Doctor Aphra (Comic) is the morally grey archaeologist from the Kieron Gillen comic run — the most requested comics-original character in the Black Series for years. Mara Jade (Comic) is the Emperor’s Hand from the Thrawn trilogy — one of the most beloved Legends characters, her first Black Series appearance since the GameStop Red Line exclusive years earlier. Jaxxon is the green Lepi smuggler from the original 1977 Marvel comics — an alien design so unusual it could only exist in the comics era. Black Krrsantan (Comic) is the gladiator Wookiee from the Aphra comics — a different release to the BOBF sub-line Krrsantan with specific comic colouring. Carnor Jax (Comic) is the Crimson Empire Imperial guardsman turned villain. Sergeant Kreel (Comic) is the SCAR Squadron leader. SCAR Trooper Mic (Comic) provides the specialised trooper. Boba Fett (In Disguise - Comic) covers the Master of Disguise comic series appearance. Infinities Darth Vader (Comic) covers the alternate universe what-if comic. Princess Leia Organa (Comic) and Luke Skywalker & Ysalamiri (Comic) complete the comics contingent.

Kenner Callbacks. The 50th Anniversary tribute to the original Kenner line produced several figures in packaging and colour schemes that reference specific Kenner releases. Greedo (Kenner) reproduces the original Kenner colour scheme on the modern 6-inch sculpt. Jawa (Kenner) similarly tributes the Kenner original. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Kenner) provides the blue-lightsaber Kenner-colour Obi-Wan. Boba Fett (Droids) uses the colour scheme from the 1985 Star Wars Droids animated series — the most unusual Boba Fett colour variant in the Black Series.

Power of the Force 2 Tributes. The Power of the Force 2 line (1995) was the first modern-era Star Wars figure line — the one that launched the collector market that eventually produced the Black Series. The 50th Anniversary tribute releases include Han Solo (POTF2), Luke Skywalker (POTF2), Princess Leia Organa (Yavin 4 - POTF2), and Greedo (POTF2) in packaging that replicates the 1990s POTF2 cards at 6-inch scale.

Tartakovsky Clone Wars. The 2003 Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars micro-series received four dedicated releases: Arc Trooper (Clone Wars Tartakovsky), General Grievous (Clone Wars Tartakovsky), and Mace Windu (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) — the Black Series’ only figures based on the stylised 2D animated aesthetic of the pre-Dave Filoni Clone Wars micro-series. These are visually distinct from both the film-based and the CGI Clone Wars animated figures and represent the only Black Series coverage of this specific animation style.

The George Lucas Figure. George Lucas (Stormtrooper Disguise) is the most unusual release in the entire Black Series — the franchise’s creator in a Stormtrooper costume, referencing Lucas’s cameo in Revenge of the Sith. It is the only real person figure the Black Series has produced outside of actor portrayals of Star Wars characters. For collectors who want a conversation piece unlike anything else in the line, this is it.

Target Exclusives — The Clone Wars Wave

The first 50th Anniversary wave was predominantly Target exclusive — Anakin Skywalker (Clone Wars), Arc Trooper Echo (Clone Wars), Clone Pilot Hawk (Clone Wars), and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Clone Wars) all launched at Target in 2021. These CGI Clone Wars-style figures complement the Clone Wars sub-line without duplicating its numbered series.

The 50th Anniversary vs 40th Anniversary

The 50th Anniversary and 40th Anniversary are fundamentally different in scope and audience despite their shared premium sub-line status. The 40th Anniversary is a focused Original Trilogy celebration in Kenner cardback packaging; the 50th Anniversary is a wide-ranging expanded universe celebration that prioritises creative diversity over thematic coherence. Collectors who want Original Trilogy in Kenner packaging choose the 40th Anniversary; collectors who want comics characters, Legends figures, Tartakovsky Clone Wars designs, and POTF2 tributes choose the 50th Anniversary.

The two sub-lines do not significantly overlap in character selection — only a handful of characters appear in both, and when they do it is in distinct configurations (Darth Maul Comic vs Darth Maul TPM, for example). Most collectors who invest in one will find value in both for different reasons.

Retailer Exclusives Across the 50th Anniversary

The 50th Anniversary has significant retailer exclusive concentration — Target, Best Buy, Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, and Walmart all received specific figures. The 2021 Clone Wars wave is heavily Target-exclusive (Anakin, Echo, Clone Pilot Hawk, Obi-Wan), while the comics-original figures in 2022–2023 are primarily standard mainline releases. This means collecting the Clone Wars portion of the sub-line requires Target sourcing while the comics portion is more broadly available. George Lucas (Stormtrooper Disguise) is the sub-line’s only standard mainline release that stands entirely alone without a parallel version in any other sub-line.

Why the Comics Figures Matter

The 50th Anniversary’s comics original releases — Doctor Aphra, Mara Jade, Black Krrsantan, Sergeant Kreel, Carnor Jax, Jaxxon — represent the deepest dive into Star Wars expanded universe material the Black Series has undertaken in any single sub-line. These figures exist because of the 50th Anniversary programme specifically; without the sub-line’s creative latitude to cover non-canonical and Legends-era characters, these figures simply would not exist. For collectors who engage with the Star Wars comics and expanded universe as seriously as the films, the 50th Anniversary is uniquely valuable and cannot be substituted by any other sub-line.

Secondary Market Notes

50th Anniversary figures vary significantly in secondary market pricing. The comics figures — particularly Doctor Aphra, Mara Jade, and Jaxxon — command premiums reflecting pent-up demand and limited production relative to Legends fan interest. The Clone Wars Target exclusives are widely available at or near retail. The Tartakovsky figures trade at moderate premiums given the specific audience and Walmart exclusivity. George Lucas (Stormtrooper Disguise) has unusually strong secondary market value given the uniqueness of the concept.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Black Series Doctor Aphra? Yes — Doctor Aphra (Comic) in the 50th Anniversary sub-line is the only Black Series Doctor Aphra figure as of 2025.

Is there a Black Series Mara Jade? Yes — Mara Jade (Comic) in the 50th Anniversary sub-line is the Galaxy Collection-era Mara Jade, following an earlier GameStop Red Line exclusive. For display purposes the 50th Anniversary version is the current recommendation.

What is the best 50th Anniversary figure? Doctor Aphra (Comic) for comics-character significance. George Lucas (Stormtrooper Disguise) for uniqueness. General Grievous (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) for the distinctive animated design.

Collecting the 50th Anniversary — Where to Start

For collectors new to the 50th Anniversary, the comics wave is the most distinctive entry point — Doctor Aphra, Mara Jade, and Jaxxon offer characters unavailable anywhere else in the line. For Clone Wars fans, the Target-exclusive 2021 wave gives the animated era three figure updates. For collectors who want the single most unusual release in the Black Series, George Lucas (Stormtrooper Disguise) is a genuine conversation piece with no parallel in the line’s history. The Tartakovsky Clone Wars trio — ARC Trooper, General Grievous, and Mace Windu — gives the 2003 micro-series its only Black Series representation and should be purchased by anyone with affection for that specific animation style.

---

Part of Star Wars The Black Series. Related: 40th Anniversary | Gaming Greats | Red Line | The Clone Wars.